We have found 19,412 posts across 4 actor forums:
Just a note to say it’s gonna be okay by mabelsfables • last post Jul 30th
Hey, I’ve been a lurker on here for a while and just wanted to send a virtual hug to anyone who needs it because this industry is...well, fill in the blank. I’ve been having an extra tough day (well, couple of years in all honesty) and just thought others might be also. Even though I type this with tears, I know this too shall pass and that there is enough good in this world for everyone. Keep going and hustling everyone. Everything will be okay!
Equity question - can a director collect our cell phones in a bin before the run of a show? by thetendy • last post Jul 30th
I know this sounds childish, but I'm in a *non equity* show with no written contracts that opened a few weeks ago. Today, the director came to the dressing room before the show and demanded we put our cell phones in a bin that she would hold until the end of the performance. We expressed that we were uncomfortable with it, and she got upset that we weren't following her orders as the director. She then said that these are equity rules - which is my question. As far as I can see, Equity rules don't state anything about this - has anybody heard of this happening before, or can point me towards some sort of rule book that may have this? Again, this is a cast of adults anywhere from 25-60, so it's not children being scolded for too much texting during a school play. As far as we can tell, cell phones have never gotten in the way of the show or the actors' preparation - so, when she asks us to turn in our phones tomorrow, do we have any ground to stand on? **Tl;Dr: Do equity rules allow a director to collect the actors' phones in a bin during the run of a show?**
Which Meisner class in LA is best? by Rocketyank • last post Jul 29th
Does anyone have any idea at all which is better between Baron Brown, Ruskin, Aldersen or Dvorak? They all seem to have pretty good reviews. Has anyone been?
What do you think about these acting schools in Cali? by RocketPunch2018 • last post Jul 29th
What is your thought on Lee Strasberg school? It's really famous and I've heard good things. John Ruskin school. I've heard that some experienced actors go here but it's more like an actors therapy group while not learning too much about Meisner There's the Actors Bootcamp which is a very common generic name, but I heard it's good for making connections What have you heard about these schools good or bad ? And what other schools have you taken?
Need advice by cvx2148 • last post Jul 29th
I am working on a student film. The genre is action/thriller. I am playing an antagonist! We are about to shoot the climax sequence, where I would be bashed by the protagonist. The director wants to shoot a fight scene between the two of us. The shoot is day after tomorrow. And I am very nervous about it. I need some suggestions on how to overcome my nervousness. What preparations should I make at the last moment? This is something that is really worrying me and I don't know but I am very nervous!
I’m getting tired of these targeted ads. And yes I still am an actor! by MickyKaMoodle • last post Jul 29th
[HELP] Actor at Drama School by Vasiliosk • last post Jul 28th
Hey friends hope you’re all doing great! I have a question. I’m 2 years into drama school and I also self produce comedy sketches and other videos on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. I have built up a social following and am scared that this may hinder my chances at certain roles. I have spoken to my teachers who all advised to be careful and that maybe one day an agent will ask me to remove some sketches or content. Any thoughts on this? I started self producing before I auditioned for drama school and have continued it through out. The way I look at it is, there aren’t any guarantees, however I don’t want to be stuck with comedies and want to broaden my range, hence going to drama school. Since being here I’ve already played roles that are far different from myself (Richard 3, A Dolls House, Angels in America)
Dear Actor: by Mm2k • last post Jul 28th
When applying for a role whether it's acting or modeling, the minimum you need is a headshot. If you apply for a role, especially from a casting notice, with a selfie, or a candid shot and think this is okay. You are mistaken. These are the first ones I throw into the garbage. If you say nothing and just send a link. Not okay. If you don't read the directions on the casting notice and do something that it tells you not to do. (i.e. don't reply - send to a specific email) It tells me that you can't take direction. For the most part, it's exciting to see head shots and new faces as I am trying to cast a project - but you are applying for a job. You still need to be professional.
MAKING FACES WON’T MAKE IT by Winniehiller • last post Jul 28th
I am fairly new to Reddit (24 days today). I’m a personal acting coach Mon. -Fri. on set of a network crime drama. On the weekends I try to make time for some up-and-coming young actors. But I was looking for a way to keep busy on set between camera set ups and other people’s coverage. We are often there 12-16 hours a day. My son suggested getting involved with this community. Teaching acting and singing is my passion and I enjoy helping young artists who have a deep desire to learn. That’s why I’ve been posting short acting lessons which will soon be a book. I’ve learned a lot in being involved here. Just reading some of the questions and comments from young actors made me realize that many beginners are at the mercy of “not so great” acting classes in their communities. Either their teachers are neglecting to include very important information or they are teaching the opposite of good acting technique. Of course others are receiving great training. But I’ve seen quite a few actors mention that they practice facial expressions on camera or in a mirror. One young man was studying both in class and with a private coach in Boston. He said he did this because he “wanted to show deeper expression” and “look genuine”. I know he has great intentions and I admire his dedication. But I can’t think of anything worse for a real actor to “practice”. Anything you are trying to “show” — any way you are trying to “look” will never be genuine. If your objective is to make certain faces in a scene, you can’t possibly be in your character’s moment. Your character is not thinking about his face. He’s immersed in his current quest. If you are thinking about your face, you will be playing the role of someone trying to make a face. Acting is about recreating what you do everyday in real life. Be honest...when YOU are busy trying to accomplish something each day, are YOU thinking about your facial expressions? Do you think perhaps your expressions are lacking in anyway because you are not thinking about them? Less genuine, perhaps? NO!!!! When you are involved in a real life situation, your facial expressions are always perfectly appropriate. So when you are playing someone else, you must trust that thinking and feeling and pursuing his/her goals will automatically produce the appropriate expressions for him. It’s none of your business what your face is doing. It is only your job to think and feel the thoughts and emotions that will spontaneously move your face in a genuine way. Forget about how you look. Your character is too busy for that! Simply think his thoughts. For instance, If you are thinking about seeing a dear friend who has been gone a long time and saying to them, “I am so glad you are here!” You will feel genuinely happy and a smile will appear. If you are thinking about being alone in a cabin in the woods where a murderer has recently escaped from prison and you suddenly hear scratching on the door, you will feel frightened - and you will have, automatically, an appropriate facial expression. You don’t want to try to make your characters “LOOK” genuine. You want to actually (genuinely) feel his/her feelings. Your face will always follow. Someone was giving me a compliment the other day about my student/client who stars in a TV show. “Since you’ve been working with him, he has gotten so good with using his eyes. He has so many different expressions. He looks like he is really thinking. How did you teach him to do that?” I had to laugh. I have never mentioned his eyes or his facial expressions. I have merely encouraged him to have an active, varied and responsive thought life, as his character, very moment he is on camera...from “Action”...to “Cut”. He is always thinking and reacting. His face and eyes come along for the ride and do exactly what is needed in the scene. Expression should always start from the inside. Never try to show your feelings. Just feel them. Your imagination and memory and thinking the thoughts of your character will lead you to actually experiencing his/her emotions. That is the true magic of acting. Another acting student here on Reddit told me that her teacher insists that film acting must be smaller than real life. She became overly concern with acting “correctly for film. So she feels self-conscious whenever she is on camera...trying to give a “film-size performance”. There is no way she can give a believable performance with that mindset. Not unless she will be playing the role of someone trying to be small. Are you starting to get the picture? Bottom line, you can’t watch yourself when you are acting. You can’t try to show an audience anything. You cannot aim for a certain effect. Not if you want to give a believable performance. You must simply be involved as your character...completely, naturally and sincerely. If you do that, it all will happen on its own, perfectly...just as it does for you in your real life, every day you are alive.
starting acting as a career by MsEnderWitcher • last post Jul 28th
disclaimer, i am new to reddit and to how it works. ;) hi! im going to call myself ender. the thing is, i want to be an actress. full time, hollywood even. i know its tough, i know its hard as heck, i know its almost impossible. but still. i enjoy and love acting, always did, always will. i acted in school plays and soon i will get into the theatre department at my school. i go to a larp and my instructors and friends think i am a really good roleplayer and actor. in the big larps, where there are really expirienced people. everyone, and i mean EVERYONE tells me im an awsome roleplayer and actor. it was watching the series "sherlock" the lit the bulb. i started to research, to ask, to plan, heck, i even searched for auditions nearby! but nope, it lead to nothing. HELP now, im sure you are thinking "ough, another one of those. next!" but i know, i know what it is like to be an actor. i read the failed actors subreddit, i read about other actors, i read about the making of big and small films, i saw the "behind the scenes" of every movie i watched, i know that you need a mountain of luck, i know that you need to sacrifice all of your time, i know its incredibly hard to get to the top, i know that most of the time (like 85%) you need to be gorgeous. but im still wanting to take the risk. the thing is, where do i start? how do i start? should i move to LA in the future? (im 14) where should i learn? and so on and so fourth. so please, i already said this **HELP :(**
There Are No Stupid Questions - Jul 28 by AutoModerator • last post Jul 28th
Please feel free to ask any question at all related to acting, no matter how simple. There will be no judgements on questions posted here. Everyone starts somewhere. So ask away!
Atlanta or LA? by donnie_marko • last post Jul 28th
Hey doods. Currently out in LA strugglin. I am taking acting classes and looking forward to doing some Shakespeare in the next month or so. I have made a fee connections, but am seriously struggling. I have to work so much just to make ends meet, and I have to drive what seems like forever to get to auditions (if i even can). I wanna know your thoughts on Atlanta. As an emerging market have any of you jumped over there and seen more success? Do you feel there are more opportunities there or here (nowadays)? I am just so tired of the struggle, the high cost of living, and traffic. I’m not having any fun doing what I love because I’m so stressed all the time. PS: I’m 22. Male. Work in tech so I can transition pretty easily. Edit: Cause the only answers here seem to be unhelpful. I am not dissatisfied with my work, nor my success as an actor. I am young, and fully enjoying the small success I am having, and taking things as often as I can. What I want to know is if any of you have worked in the Atlanta market, do you feel it is comparable for a young actor to begin there while we build our resume? Since it has a lower cost of living it is more appealing to me because I could save more money and time, and it would be easy for me to take my current, full time position along with me.
What do you think about my acting? by holobert56 • last post Jul 27th
Hi everybody!! Im a begginer in the beautiful world of acting,and i would like to know what do you think about my performance on this monologue written by joseph arnone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sv1QjRV9wg&t=7s i would aprecciate opinions,tips and advices!! (Im spanish,so i would appreciate also tips about my english accent) Thank you...
Neat except from unaired interview by Michael_Dinich • last post Jul 27th
I was really excited to share an interview with an actor that I felt shared tons of neat insights. The actor really turned negative and despite my best effort I had to basically say, I might be a nothing to you, but I'm not a doormat. (let's leave it at that). Here is an excerpt that I thought was cool; Also, it's more challenging than ever and that's not just LA, that's everywhere. The truth now is that honestly Hollywood's dead. It's a little bit dead. . Now that with the internet, with digital media, with digital, with ways of now actors are constantly ... It's called self-taping. You no longer have to live here. So even years ago when I moved here, and I would go in and my agent would say, "Oh, they're seeing the usual suspects." So you knew that maybe for a big role on TV there were the same 30 people going in for it. Now, your competition level, and I hate the word competition, but your competition level or people vying for the same position is tenfold. So now they will watch 3000 self-tapes that were sent in from actresses from LA to Atlanta to Florida to Hawaii to Alaska and on and on and on it goes. Now you no longer have to be, because of the digital world, you don't have to be here anymore. That's something that is a blessing and a curse all in and of itself.
Place for industry people to critique your website? by rrichardjames • last post Jul 27th
Hi all! I’m an actor based in NY who spends way too much time on his website. I was wondering if anyone knows a place or site or service where a CD or manager or agent can give you feedback. Any and all leads encouraged! Thanks! -rr
Why Do You Like LA/NY? by GritParagon • last post Jul 27th
If you're an LA/NY native this doesn't apply to you. This topic is directed towards those who packed their bags and moved from out of state. For those of you who made the big move to two of the biggest markets for actors, do you enjoy living there? Does the question of "*this is where I plan on living the rest of my life*" ever cross your mind? LA is like an industrial town. Instead of steel, there's film. Actually, instead of steel you've got ~~cattle~~ artists. I'm curious as to how many of you, especially those of you who managed to stay there past the three year mark, have learned to accept this aspect? How often do you get out of the city to maintain your sanity? It's hard isn't it? You'll miss an important audition if you leave even for a second. Or perhaps you fell in love with the city and absolutely love it there. In that case, I guess you can consider yourself lucky. Or maybe you're living it up in Santa Monica and not drudging up the 110 temperatures in the SFV. Successful actors don't have to stay in LA permanently. But if you're struggling and hustling like most actors, you don't have much choice but to stay seated.
Auditioning with no experience - does it help you or hinder you more? by LordGranthamofDonk • last post Jul 27th
I can imagine that it gives you a lot of great experience and makes you less nervous about auditioning in general, but if you're terrible, won't casting directors remember and not call you in?
Communicative Drama Games by AverageBrendan • last post Jul 27th
Studying Theatre and Drama in College and one of my assignments is to plan a workshop with a specific takeaway Theme. My title / Theme is "Communication: The Power and Place of Words". Just wondering if anyone has some suggestions for drama games specifically orientated around Communicative / Persuasive / Debate Techniques. I've made a pretty good start but if I could a few more relevant exercises: that'd be just baller.
2 Qs: Would you consider acting "intellectually stimulating?" Is acting "emotionally draining?" by lucidpersian • last post Jul 27th
My only experience is being a main character (4 total) in a play at uni and, for whatever reason, perhaps acute awareness of my incompetence, i found it boring. Never felt like i was IN the role; just felt like a performing monkey. (Only time i "connected" was during a short reading, using an image my prof suggested) My prof said she couldn't be an actor and preferred directing because acting took too much out of her. Any thoughts?